Latest news with #KenChu
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Ken Chu gets candid about F4 reunion, Barbie Hsu's death and selling her ex's products
TAIPEI, July 19 — Taiwanese singer-actor Ken Chu has spoken out after facing backlash for promoting products linked to Wang Xiaofei, the ex-husband of the late actress Barbie Hsu. The 46-year-old, who rose to fame as a member of the iconic boy band F4, addressed the criticism during a Douyin livestream on Wednesday. He also reflected on his recent reunion with his bandmates — Jerry Yan, Vic Chou and Vanness Wu — during Mayday's concert on July 12, as well as his deep affection for Hsu, their Meteor Garden co-star who died earlier this year. Hsu, who played female lead Shan Cai in the 2001 drama that catapulted F4 to stardom, died on February 2 at age 48. According to AsiaOne, Chu became visibly emotional while discussing her, pausing to collect himself before saying: 'She was in the lives of the four of us, right? Everyone talks about the wheel of fate. I believe that among the four of us, we each had our own methods of loving her when we were younger.' Chu revealed he had hesitated to take part in the reunion due to his declining health, admitting, 'I age 1.5 times faster than a normal person.' He added that if he didn't join the band within the year or next, he might not be able to keep up physically. Still, it was his enduring gratitude for F4 and his affection for Hsu that ultimately convinced him: 'It's because of the love and passion I received over the years, and because of Barbie.' The livestream also saw Chu address criticism over his decision to sell Ma Liu Ji instant hot and sour noodle soup — a food brand owned by Wang Xiaofei and his mother Zhang Lan — during his online sales shows. Online users had questioned his support for the brand, given the legal disputes between Wang and Hsu before her death. But Chu was unbothered. 'Why can't I sell it?' he said bluntly. 'To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei earns a lot of money, if not, who would take care of his two children?' Hsu and Wang, who divorced in 2021, shared two children, Hsi-yueh, 11, and Hsi-lin, nine. In the years leading up to the actress' passing, the former couple were embroiled in several lawsuits, including allegations of defamation and breaches of privacy. Chu had briefly addressed his position in 2023, saying during another livestream: 'I think it's quite awkward to say this... but my liking for this brand has no relation to any trending news. I just feel that this brand is honest in their products, taste well and I wanted to recommend it to everyone.'
Malay Mail
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Ken Chu gets candid on F4 reunion, Barbie Hsu's death and selling her ex's products
TAIPEI, July 19 — Taiwanese singer-actor Ken Chu has spoken out after facing backlash for promoting products linked to Wang Xiaofei, the ex-husband of the late actress Barbie Hsu. The 46-year-old, who rose to fame as a member of the iconic boy band F4, addressed the criticism during a Douyin livestream on Wednesday. He also reflected on his recent reunion with his bandmates — Jerry Yan, Vic Chou and Vanness Wu — during Mayday's concert on July 12, as well as his deep affection for Hsu, their Meteor Garden co-star who died earlier this year. Hsu, who played female lead Shan Cai in the 2001 drama that catapulted F4 to stardom, died on February 2 at age 48. According to AsiaOne, Chu became visibly emotional while discussing her, pausing to collect himself before saying: 'She was in the lives of the four of us, right? Everyone talks about the wheel of fate. I believe that among the four of us, we each had our own methods of loving her when we were younger.' Chu revealed he had hesitated to take part in the reunion due to his declining health, admitting, 'I age 1.5 times faster than a normal person.' He added that if he didn't join the band within the year or next, he might not be able to keep up physically. Still, it was his enduring gratitude for F4 and his affection for Hsu that ultimately convinced him: 'It's because of the love and passion I received over the years, and because of Barbie.' The livestream also saw Chu address criticism over his decision to sell Ma Liu Ji instant hot and sour noodle soup — a food brand owned by Wang Xiaofei and his mother Zhang Lan — during his online sales shows. Online users had questioned his support for the brand, given the legal disputes between Wang and Hsu before her death. But Chu was unbothered. 'Why can't I sell it?' he said bluntly. 'To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei earns a lot of money, if not, who would take care of his two children?' Hsu and Wang, who divorced in 2021, shared two children, Hsi-yueh, 11, and Hsi-lin, nine. In the years leading up to the actress' passing, the former couple were embroiled in several lawsuits, including allegations of defamation and breaches of privacy. Chu had briefly addressed his position in 2023, saying during another livestream: 'I think it's quite awkward to say this... but my liking for this brand has no relation to any trending news. I just feel that this brand is honest in their products, taste well and I wanted to recommend it to everyone.'
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Singer Ken Chu scolded for selling products by Barbie Hsu's ex-husband
TAIPEI: Taiwanese singer and actor Ken Chu has responded to netizens who criticised him for selling products belonging to Barbie Hsu's ex-husband, the Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei. The 46-year-old artiste, a former member of the Taiwanese boy band F4, who recently reunited with the group at Mayday's concert on July 12, held a Douyin livestream on July 16. During the stream, he discussed F4's reunion and the late Barbie Hsu. F4, which also includes stars Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, and Vanness Wu, rose to fame in the Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), in which Barbie Hsu also starred as the female lead. She passed away on Feb 2 at the age of 48 from pneumonia. Ken, who has ventured into livestream selling in recent years, mentioned that he was recently reprimanded by netizens for offering instant hot and sour noodle soup from Ma Liu Ji, a food brand owned by Barbie's ex-husband Xiaofei and his mother Zhang Lan, during his livestream.
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunite for surprise performance at Mayday concert
Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited at Mayday's Taipei concert on July 12. Photo: Ken Chu/Instagram Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 – which made its debut in 2001 after the four members starred in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001) – delivered its hit song Meteor Rain (2001) and Mayday's The Song Of Laughter And Forgetting (2008) as guest performer. The group sang both songs with Mayday, which was staging its last Taipei show as part of its Mayday #5525 Back To That Day Live Tour (2023 to present). F4 comprises Taiwanese-American Van Ness Wu, 46, and Taiwanese stars Jerry Yan, 48, Ken Chu, 46, and Vic Chou, 44. Chu was quick to share photographs of the band's reunion, taking to Instagram on July 12 to post pictures of them singing and hugging. Netizens took the reunion positively, with comments on his Instagram post such as 'Is this really true?' and 'Full F4 Asian concert next please'. During the concert, Mayday's lead vocalist Ashin said the reunion took two years to arrange, and that many people were involved in making it happen. As Chu addressed the crowd, he said it was his first time attending a Mayday show. He added that he could finally heave a sigh of relief, as he had to keep the reunion a secret by claiming he was not in contact with the other F4 members. The quartet, which disbanded in 2009, last came together in 2013 to sing at Jiangsu Television's Spring Festival Gala in China. According to Wu, the foursome had experienced feelings of jealousy and unfairness before their disbandment. He revealed this in an appearance with Yan on the Chinese chat show Welcome Back To Sound in 2022. Taiwan's Mirror Media reported on June 4 that F4 had reached an agreement and would reunite for a concert to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2026. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Like a sudden meteor shower: F4 makes surprise reunion at Mayday concert, delighting fans (VIDEO)
TAIPEI, July 13 — Concertgoers at Taiwanese group Mayday's concert last night got a surprise bonus: an appearance of the group F4, singing their most famous hit Meteor Rain. ET Today reported that last night was Mayday's Taipei Arena stop and it also became the first time F4 had reunited in 12 years. More than 40,000 fans were treated to this unexpected show. The last time the F4 members had appeared together was China's 2013 Spring Festival Gala. Mayday had apparently attempted to invite the group as guests two years ago, but busy schedules prevented it from happening. Besides Meteor Shower, F4 and Mayday also performed the latter's The Song of Laughter and Forgetting. Full performance of #F4 at #Mayday's concert ????(c) MayDay's IG#JerryYan #VannessWu #KenChu #VicZhou — Irene (@HwanyJoo15) July 12, 2025 Will there be a possible group concert happening sometime? After the overwhelming social media response from delighted fans, perhaps the F4 members will be motivated to make it happen. F4's Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Ken Chu and Vic Chou were a boyband consisting of the lead actors from the popular Taiwanese TV drama series Meteor Garden that also helped launch the career of the late Barbie Hsu. The show was a hit across Asia and heralded the beginning of idol drama shows.
